TikTok Banned in India

TikTok has been banned on both Android and iOS platforms

Chinese video-sharing application TikTok has been removed from the Google Play Store and the iOS app store in India a day after the Indian government asked that access to the popular application, which has over 230 million downloads in India, be banned. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had on Tuesday asked Google and Apple to block the application after the Supreme Court's refusal to stay the original Madras High Court order on April 3.

The Madras High Court had, in an ex-parte order, prohibited the download and use of the popular mobile video-sharing app. The government had been directed to prohibit downloading of TikTok and had prohibited the media from telecasting the videos made using TikTok Mobile App.

As for iPhone users, they will have to wait until the ban is officially removed to download the application. iOS users can't sideload apps from third-party sources on iOS devices.

While the ban has resulted in the apps being removed from the app stores, it should be noted that those who have the TikTok app pre-installed needn't worry and can continue to use it normally. It is still not a crime to use TikTok in India and you can continue to create content from your TikTok account.

With over 54 million users every month, TikTok allows its users to create and share videos.  These user-created videos that often contain memes, lip-syncing of songs but sometimes, sleazy posts regularly find ways to other popular social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and ShareChat. The Madras High Court had banned it after deeming it “inappropriate for children.”